Christmas

Luke 2:1-14 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, tor the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ESV

Christmas. Luke 2

Government causing problems in the lives of regular people.

Some things never change!

We want to count you so you have to go somewhere else.

Travel, overcrowding and they probably still got the count wrong.

Every now and then the government does something useful.

Even if they don’t realize what they are doing

There really is no separation between God and government.

God can even use a government bureaucracy for His REDEMPTIVE purposes

God is sovereign and the government is not

Mary and Josephs Christmas was far from perfect

They had to travel a great distance (on donkey anyway)

She was in her final days of pregnancy with the Son of God

I would have said something like “God, this is your baby in there, can’t you just BEAM US OVER to Bethlehem or something?”

Your Christmas will not be perfect but I doubt you are giving birth bin a stinky barn!

Praise God for what you do have and what He has protected you from getting

You have a choice when you are giving birth in a barn

You can praise God for the new life He has given

You can focus on the smell, the critter and the poop.

Where your focus is will determine your outlook and attitude.

You may have to work on Christmas

feel like you are all alone in the wilderness

BUT God knows exactly where you are

and wants you to know how to find His Son.

God knows you

God knows your location

God knows your name

God knows your need

God knows the struggles you are going through

God knows the choices you are faced with

God knows the opportunities and the pitfalls

His response to you is the same as it was to those hard working shepherds all those years ago